Ingle and Kerr send Chelsea into FA Cup quarterfinals: 3 takeaways

In the first match out of the February international break, Emma Hayes and the Chelsea Women got the job done to advance to the last eight of the Women’s FA Cup.

It was a busy Sunday afternoon in London for Chelsea Football Club. Several miles south of where Graham Potter and his team pieced together another pitiful display against Spurs, the Chelsea Women made yet another step toward their ultimate goal. With just a few days to prepare for a tough FA Cup tie following the international break, the Blues showed immense resolve and professionalism. For the third consecutive campaign, the west London side have extinguished Arsenal’s hopes of its first FA Cup trophy since 2016.

With two of the Gunners’ most lethal attacking threats watching on from the Kingsmeadow stands, Eidevall’s side could not execute a way through the Blues’ backline despite Ann-Katrin Berger being called into action 11 times. Arsenal’s 55 percent shots on target percentage was quite deceiving with almost all of them hit straight into the gloves of the German international. Some would think at some point the Blues would drop off in their consistency. Each member of this team look locked in on winning as much silverware. The relentless that they bring to the pitch each and every day makes this quite a special group.

The Gunners threatened on more than one occasion, but CFC countered with an attack that was much more clinical than its opposition. Lauren James picked up right where she left off at the Arnold Clark Cup, darting passed defenders like a hot knife through butter. Just a few seconds after the Gunners could have been one goal up, Arsenal presents James with far too much space as she set up Sophie Ingle for just her third goal of the season in all competitions.

James collected the hockey assist on the second goal with Sam Kerr haunting the Gunners for the second time in the last two months. It was one of those games where the stat-sheet does not tell the story of how the match went. Yes, the Gunners presented CFC with a threat in the attack, but it was nothing the defense and Berger could not deal with. Hayes will have to clean up a few things ahead of the two’s next meeting at Selhurst Park next weekend, but for now, Chelsea fans should just appreciate a team that plays an inspiring brand of football.

Here are 3 Chelsea takeaways from yet another cup triumph over the Blues’ north London rivals: